€1,650 PokerStars Open | 2025 PokerStars EPT Barcelona

08-24-2025 17:38 UTC+1

Tian Gets Value on the River

David Salituro

Level 40 : Blinds 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante

Mengshi Tian limped in, Alexis Nicolai raised to 3,600,000, and Tian called.

The flop came K♥10♣J♣ and Tian quickly folded to a bet of 4,000,000.

The next hand, Nicolai raised to 2,700,000 on the button and Tian called. Both players checked to the river on a board of 3♠9♦J♠10♦2♦ when Tian bet 3,500,000. Nicolai quickly called.

Tian showed J♥8♣ for a pair of jacks, and Nicolai flashed a ten before mucking.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mengshi Tian	82,000,000 6,500,000	6,500,000
Alexis Nicolai	68,000,000 6,500,000	6,500,000

Tags: Alexis Nicolai Mengshi Tian

08-24-2025 17:29 UTC+1

Nicolai Draws Virtually Even

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David Salituro

Level 40 : Blinds 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante

In a limped pot, Mengshi Tian bet 1,200,000 from the button on a flop of 7♦7♥8♥ and Alexis Nicolai called in the big blind.

Tian bet another 4,500,000 on the K♦ turn and Nicolai again called. Both players checked the K♠ river, and Nicolai showed J♦8♠. Tian also flashed a 8♦, but Nicolai's jack-kicker played to earn him the pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mengshi Tian	75,500,000 8,900,000	8,900,000
Alexis Nicolai	74,500,000 7,875,000	7,875,000

Tags: Alexis Nicolai Mengshi Tian

08-24-2025 17:19 UTC+1

Heads-Up Play Begins

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David Salituro

Level 40 : Blinds 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante

The players are back in their seats, the trophy has been placed on the table, and the heads-up match is underway.

08-24-2025 17:01 UTC+1

Ben Zech Eliminated in 3rd Place (€344,560)

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David Salituro

Level 40 : Blinds 600,000/1,200,000, 1,200,000 ante

Ben Zech moved all in for 8,650,000 on the button and Alexis Nicolai called in the small blind.

Ben Zech: A♥6♥ All in
Alexis Nicolai: A♠7♠

Nicolai took out his phone and began filming the action as the flop came A♦10♦7♣, giving him two pair. The 9♠ turn gave Zech outs to a straight, but he missed the Q♣ river and was eliminated in third place.

Nicolai and Mengshi Tian agreed to take a quick break before starting heads-up play.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mengshi Tian	84,400,000 3,900,000	3,900,000
Alexis Nicolai	66,625,000 6,625,000	6,625,000
Ben Zech	Busted

Tags: Alexis Nicolai Ben Zech

Level: 40

Blinds: 600,000/1,200,000

Ante: 1,200,000

08-24-2025 16:57 UTC+1

Tian Shoves on Zech

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David Salituro

Level 39 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante

Mengshi Tian raised to 2,000,000 in the small blind and Ben Zech called in the big blind.

The flop came J♠J♣4♦ and Tian bet 2,000,000. Zech called and the 5♥ fell on the turn.

Tian checked to Zech, who bet 2,500,000. Tian then moved all in and Zech, with around 9,000,000 remaining, quickly folded.

"You have anything?" Zech asked.

"Maybe," Tian replied.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mengshi Tian	80,500,000 15,500,000	15,500,000
Ben Zech	9,000,000 13,000,000	13,000,000

Tags: Ben Zech Mengshi Tian

08-24-2025 16:48 UTC+1

Chin Wei Lim Eliminated in 4th Place (€265,200)

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David Salituro

Level 39 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante

Alexis Nicolai limped in from the small blind before Chin Wei Lim raised to 3,500,000. Nicolai then moved all in and Lim called for 18,000,000.

Chin Wei Lim: A♥Q♠ All in
Alexis Nicolai: 10♦10♣

Lim was racing for his tournament life but fell far behind on the 10♠3♠2♥ flop as Nicolai hit top set. The 6♠ turn gave him outs to a flush, but Lim missed the 3♥ river as Nicolai improved to a full house to send Lim to the rail in fourth place.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alexis Nicolai	60,000,000 17,000,000	17,000,000
Chin Wei Lim	Busted

Tags: Alexis Nicolai Chin Wei Lim

08-24-2025 16:44 UTC+1

Zech Flops the World to Double Off Tian

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David Salituro

Level 39 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante

Mengshi Tian raised to 2,000,000 under the gun, Ben Zech moved all in for 9,125,000 on the button, and Tian called.

Ben Zech: 9♠9♥ All in
Mengshi Tian: A♠4♣

Any risk of elimination Zech may have been facing was completely removed once the flop brought 9♦9♣5♦ to give him quads. The rest of the board ran out K♠8♥ and he doubled up.

"I'm coming for you," he told Tian.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mengshi Tian	65,000,000 10,000,000	10,000,000
Ben Zech	22,000,000 13,500,000	13,500,000

Tags: Ben Zech Mengshi Tian

08-24-2025 16:40 UTC+1

Few Flops to Be Seen

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David Salituro

Level 39 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante

Several hands have gone by that were won either with a preflop raise or a walk.

Mengshi Tian and Alexis Nicolai have both recently shoved on Ben Zech, Nicolai showing him A♦10♠ as Zech gave up both pots.

Player	Chips	Progress
Mengshi Tian	75,000,000 3,000,000	3,000,000
Alexis Nicolai	43,000,000 3,000,000	3,000,000
Chin Wei Lim	18,000,000 5,600,000	5,600,000
Ben Zech	8,500,000 6,025,000	6,025,000

Tags: Mengshi Tian Ben Zech Alexis Nicolai

08-24-2025 16:31 UTC+1

Daniele Cuomo Eliminated in 5th Place (€203,910)

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David Salituro

Level 39 : Blinds 500,000/1,000,000, 1,000,000 ante

Daniele Cuomo shoved forward his stack of 8,000,000 from the cutoff as action folded to Alexis Nicolai in the big blind. "Wow-ee," he said as he slammed down K♥K♣ even before announcing a call.

Daniele Cuomo: A♥9♥ All in
Alexis Nicolai: K♥K♣

Cuomo hit a pair on the 9♠5♦4♠ flop, but he improved no further on the 3♦ turn or 6♦ river and was sent to the rail in fifth place.

"Now it's my turn for king-king," Ben Zech added.